Baron Gaston LeGrand
Armagnac 1956 Baron Gaston LeGrand
50 Year Old, Bas-Armagnac, Bottled 2006, Waxbutton with Rope and Logo, Wooden Case, Capsule Covered with Cloth, with Additional Capsule
Provenance: Catawiki, 11/11/2016
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Armagnac
Armagnac is France's oldest and most prestigious wine-based eau-de-vie. In the 16th century, it was sold over the counter in pharmacies as a "medicine". Armagnac began to be aged in oak barrels in the 17th century. Nowadays, the Armagnac region can be divided into three production areas: Bas-Armagnac, Ténarèze and Haut-Armagnac. Unlike Cognac, Armagnac is comprised of a broad palette of grape varieties, each very different, allowing for a very particular aromatic balance: Bacco adds to the wine's structure and lends it full-bodied, rich and dense aromas that require long ageing processes to fully express their roundness, smoothness and length on the palate. Folle Blanche, on the other hand, provides freshness and fruitiness in the first years of ageing. Ugni Blanc, ideal for distilling, as well as Colombard, are the final names on the region's list of most common grape varieties. When aged for 15 years or more, Armagnac displays flavours of hazelnut, orange peel, cocoa, and prunes combined with aromas of rose, verbena, leather, vanilla and even cinnamon. These Armagnacs are very dense and rounded and fully express their soil. After 25 years, Armagnacs lose their potency and mellow. Their original character gives way to oak barrel fragrances and their length on the palate becomes truly remarkable.
Baron Gaston LeGrand
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Baron Gaston Legrand
The Armagnac region is situated 100 km south of the city of Bordeaux and is divided into three sub-districts: Bas-Armagnac, Ténarèze, and Haut-Armagnac. The Bas-Armagnac is close to the Pyrenees at the Spanish border. This unique location offers plenty of sunlight, a temperate climate, and excellent light humidity. The sandy grounds of the Bas-Armagnac make the region ideal for growing grape varieties suitable for the distillate.
Maison lHéraud
The commonly used grape for the Armagnac is the Ugni Blanc, but for the Baron Gaston Legrand Armagnac of Maison lHéraud, they also used Folle Blanche which contributes to the elegance and the fruity flavor. Also, the grape Baco Blanc is used for the distillate, which makes for the plum accents that are so typical for Armagnac.
Wooden barrels
Contrary to the double distillation of Cognac, the distillation of Armagnac is only once. The distillation process is traditionally held in November and December and ends in February. Then the Armagnac of Lhéraud matures in wooden barrels of Limousin and Monlezun Oak. They make the Baron Gaston Legrand Armagnac of the grapes from one harvest year.
